John Qualen
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- December 6, 1899
- Died
- September 12, 1987 (aged 87)
- Birthplace
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Qualen (born Johan Mandt Kvalen, December 8, 1899 – September 12, 1987) was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles. Qualen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of immigrants from Norway; his father was a Lutheran minister and changed the family's original surname, "Kvalen", to "Qualen" – though some sources give Oleson, later Oleson Kvalen as Qualen's earlier surnames. His father's ministering meant many moves and John was 20 when he graduated from Elgin High School in 1920. Though he was awarded a scholarship to Northwestern University after he won an oratory contest he never attended college. In a Milwaukee Journal interview he said he needed to start working and did so with the Chattaqua Circuit. Eventually reaching Broadway, he gained his big break as the Swedish janitor in Elmer Rice's Street Scene. His movie career began when he recreated the role in the film version. This was followed by his appearance in John Ford's Arrowsmith (1931) which began a more than thirty year membership in the director's "stock company", with important supporting roles in The Searchers (1956), Two Rode Together (1961), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). Appearing in well over one hundred films, and acting extensively on television into the 1970s, Qualen performed many of his roles with various accents, usually Scandinavian, often intended for comic effect. Three of his more memorable roles showcase his versatility. Qualen assumed a Midwestern dialect as Muley, who recounts the destruction of his farm by the bank in Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and as the confused killer Earl Williams in Howard Hawks' classic comedy His Girl Friday (also 1940). As Berger, the jewelry-selling Norwegian resistance member in Michael Curtiz' Casablanca (1942), he essayed a light Scandinavian accent, but put on a thicker Mediterranean accent as the homeward-bound fisherman Locota in William Wellman's The High and the Mighty (1954) Qualen was treasurer of The Authors Club and historian of The Masquers, Hollywood's social group for actors. John Qualen was blind in his later years. He died of heart failure in 1987 in Torrance, California, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. He was survived by his three daughters.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
La Classe américaine
Movie · as V12 (archive footage) (uncredited)
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion
Movie · as Old Man on Porch
Getting Away from It All
Movie · as Charlie Erickson
The Streets of San Francisco
TV · as Frank Casey · 1 ep
The Odd Couple
TV · as Groundskeeper, Mr. Larson, Sam · 1 ep
The Partridge Family
TV · as The Old Man · 1 ep
Hail, Hero!
Movie · as Billy Hurd
Doc
Movie · as Luke
Firecreek
Movie · as Hall
P.J.
Movie · as Poppa
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Movie · as Jesse Buford
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
TV · as Dr. Elmer Spritzer · 1 ep
Shane
TV · as Old Man · 1 ep
Jericho
TV · 1 ep
A Patch of Blue
Movie · as Mr. Faber
The Sons of Katie Elder
Movie · as Charlie Biller
I'll Take Sweden
Movie · as Olaf
Green Acres
TV · as Mr. Appleby, Willie Dunhill · 1 ep
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
Movie · as Luther Lindquist
Those Calloways
Movie · as Ernie Evans
Cheyenne Autumn
Movie · as Svenson (uncredited)
No Time for Sergeants
TV · 1 ep
Donovan's Reef
Movie · as Deckhand Who Cries 'Man Overboard' (uncredited)
The Prize
Movie · as Oscar
Burke's Law
TV · as Richard Prince (uncredited) · 2 eps
My Favorite Martian
TV · as Matt · 1 ep
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Movie · as Peter Ericson
The Virginian
TV · as Gosta Swenson · 1 ep
Two Rode Together
Movie · as Ole Knudsen
Mister Ed
TV · as Milo Simmons · 2 eps
Ben Casey
TV · 2 eps
Dr. Kildare
TV · as Mr. Callahan · 1 ep
Hazel
TV · as Mr. Johansson · 1 ep
North to Alaska
Movie · as Logger
Hell Bent for Leather
Movie · as Old Ben
Elmer Gantry
Movie · as Sam - Storekeeper
The Andy Griffith Show
TV · as Henry Bennett · 1 ep
Thriller
TV · as Streetcar Conductor · 1 ep
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
TV · 1 ep
Tate
TV · as Sam · 1 ep
Anatomy of a Murder
Movie · as Deputy Sheriff Sulo
The Alaskans
TV · 1 ep
Tightrope
TV · 1 ep
The Third Man
TV · 1 ep
Bonanza
TV · as Parley · 1 ep
Revolt in the Big House
Movie · as Doc
The Gun Runners
Movie · as Pop
My World Dies Screaming
Movie · as Jonah Snell
Sea Hunt
TV · 1 ep
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV · 1 ep
Yancy Derringer
TV · as Capt. Sven Larsen · 1 ep
Bronco
TV · 1 ep
The Donna Reed Show
TV · as Zeke · 1 ep
Lawman
TV · as Doc Shea, Doc Shay · 1 ep
The Big Land
Movie · as Sven Johnson
Sugarfoot
TV · as Jens Jensen · 1 ep
Maverick
TV · as Leland Mills · 1 ep
The Real McCoys
TV · as Frank · 1 ep
The Searchers
Movie · as Lars Jorgensen
Johnny Concho
Movie · as Jake
Man on a Bus
Movie · as Second Prisoner
The Sea Chase
Movie · as Chief Engineer Schmitt
Unchained
Movie · as Leonard Haskins
At Gunpoint
Movie · as Livingstone
Cheyenne
TV · 1 ep
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV · as Mr. Stepp, Elmer Shore, Mr. Crabtree · 1 ep
The Millionaire
TV · as Harry Stonewall Jackson · 1 ep
The High and the Mighty
Movie · as Jose Locota
The Other Woman
Movie · as Papasha
Passion
Movie · as Gaspar Melo
December Bride
TV · 2 eps
Climax!
TV · as Geist · 1 ep
Public Defender
TV · as Ames · 1 ep
Father Knows Best
TV · as Old Man · 1 ep
I, the Jury
Movie · as Dr. R.H. Vickers, Veterinarian
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
Movie · as Jonas P. Travis
General Electric Theater
TV · 1 ep
Hans Christian Andersen
Movie · as Burgomaster
Goodbye, My Fancy
Movie · as Professor Dingley
Belle Le Grand
Movie · as Corky McGee
Dragnet
TV · 2 eps
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV · as Pop Bradshaw, Peleg Brewster · 1 ep
Racket Squad
TV · 1 ep
Woman on the Run
Movie · as Maibus
The Jackpot
Movie · as Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
The Flying Missile
Movie · as Lars Hansen
Captain China
Movie · as Geech
Buccaneer's Girl
Movie · as Vegetable Seller
Lux Video Theatre
TV · as Eddie · 1 ep
The Big Steal
Movie · as Julius Seton
My Girl Tisa
Movie · as Svenson
Hollow Triumph
Movie · as Dr. Swangron
Alias a Gentleman
Movie · as No End
Reaching from Heaven
Movie · as The Stranger
16 Fathoms Deep
Movie · as Capt. Athos
The Philco Television Playhouse
TV · as Gus Gruntle · 1 ep
The Fugitive
Movie · as A Refugee Doctor
Song of Scheherazade
Movie · as Lorenzo
High Conquest
Movie · as Peter Oberwalder Sr.
Adventure
Movie · as Model T
Roughly Speaking
Movie · as Svend Olsen
Captain Kidd
Movie · as Bart Blivens
River Gang
Movie · as Uncle Bill
Dark Waters
Movie · as Uncle Norbert
The Impostor
Movie · as Monge
An American Romance
Movie · as Anton Dubechek
Casablanca
Movie · as Berger
Swing Shift Maisie
Movie · as Horatio Curley
Jungle Book
Movie · as The Barber
Arabian Nights
Movie · as Aladdin
Larceny, Inc.
Movie · as Sam Bachrach
Tortilla Flat
Movie · as Jose Maria Corcoran
Breakdowns of 1942
Movie · as Self
Out of the Fog
Movie · as Olaf Johnson
All That Money Can Buy
Movie · as Miser Stevens
The Shepherd of the Hills
Movie · as Coot Royal
Million Dollar Baby
Movie · as Dr. Patterson
Model Wife
Movie · as The Janitor
New Wine
Movie · as Hasslinger's Clerk
The Grapes of Wrath
Movie · as Muley Graves
His Girl Friday
Movie · as Earl Williams
Youth Will Be Served
Movie · as Clem Howie
Blondie on a Budget
Movie · as Ed Fuddle
Angels Over Broadway
Movie · as Charles Engle
Knute Rockne All American
Movie · as Lars Knutson Rockne
The Long Voyage Home
Movie · as Axel
Ski Patrol
Movie · as Gustaf
On Their Own
Movie · as Peters
Babies for Sale
Movie · as Howard Anderson
Saturday's Children
Movie · as First Carpenter (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
Movie · as Milo
Honeymoon in Bali
Movie · as Meek Man (uncredited)
Stand Up and Fight
Movie · as Davy
Four Wives
Movie · as Frank
Let Us Live
Movie · as Dan (uncredited)
Mickey the Kid
Movie · as Mailman
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Movie · as Stoner
Five of a Kind
Movie · as Asa Wyatt
The Mad Miss Manton
Movie · as Night Watchman at Subway Construction Site
The Chaser
Movie · as Lars
Joy of Living
Movie · as Oswego
Angel's Holiday
Movie · as Waldo Everett
Seventh Heaven
Movie · as Sewer Rat
Fit for a King
Movie · as Otto
The Bad Man of Brimstone
Movie · as Loco
Nothing Sacred
Movie · as Fireman (uncredited)
Fifty Roads to Town
Movie · as Sheriff Dow
She Had to Eat
Movie · as Sleepy
Girls' Dormitory
Movie · as Toni
Meet Nero Wolfe
Movie · as Olaf
The Country Doctor
Movie · as Asa Wyatt
Reunion
Movie · as Asa Wyatt
The Road to Glory
Movie · as Duflous
Ring Around the Moon
Movie · as Bill Harvey
Wife vs. Secretary
Movie · as Mr. Jenkins (uncredited)
Charlie Chan in Paris
Movie · as Concierge, Dufresne's Hotel (bit)
Black Fury
Movie · as Mike Shemanski
One More Spring
Movie · as Auctioneer
Orchids to You
Movie · as Smith
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Movie · as Sol Tinker
Chasing Yesterday
Movie · as Coccoz
Man of Iron
Movie · as Collins
Thunder in the Night
Movie · as Hotel Porter
The Three Musketeers
Movie · as Planchet
Whipsaw
Movie · as Will Dabson
Doubting Thomas
Movie · as Von Blitzen
Silk Hat Kid
Movie · as Mr. Fossbender
The Great Hotel Murder
Movie · as Ole
Our Daily Bread
Movie · as Chris (as John T. Qualen)
He Was Her Man
Movie · as Dutch, Santa Avila's Cabbie
Sing and Like It
Movie · as Oswald (as John M. Qualen)
Upperworld
Movie · as Janitor
365 Nights in Hollywood
Movie · as Prof. Herman Ellenbogen
Hi, Nellie!
Movie · as Steve (uncredited)
Straight Is the Way
Movie · as Mr. Clapman (uncredited)
Servants' Entrance
Movie · as Detective
Let's Fall in Love
Movie · as Bjorkman, Svente Bjorkman
Counsellor at Law
Movie · as Breitstein
Arrowsmith
Movie · as Henry Novak (uncredited)
Street Scene
Movie · as Karl Olsen (as John M. Qualen)